Spanish renovation

[onlyMark]

Bixa, the original ones (mosaic tiles) cover(ed) the whole pool and were/are fine everywhere else - but the top lip wouldn't normally have the same tile as they're not designed to be there. There is no decorative 'edge' to them and just maybe 1cm x 1cm - but all together on a fifteen x fifteen tile mat. This photo is how they normally would be - with another tile or something protecting the top edge so they aren't pulled off. Does that explain it? -




It's the same builder who has done virtually all the house. He's local and he's the one who sorted out the break in. I have no problems him doing the stuff as he's a fair price, reliable and needs the work. If I wanted a special pool builder he'd have to come from many km away as there are none around here.
The pool should be somewhere about full tomorrow, but I'm not yet filling it to the very top. I want to see what it looks like but if they stand out, or just fade into the background as it were I'll just be happy if they don't come off like the old mosaic ones.

htmb, water coming out the hosepipe is 27 degrees C, so it'll be ready for a dip as soon as possible.

K2, don't know what the Sims are. So it goes completely over my head, but worth the effort.

[bixaorellana]

Got it, Mark ~ thanks.

[onlyMark]

Eventually it's full enough and I need the water for other things. When the hosepipe is on it takes all the supply away from the rest of the house, apart from a small trickle.
That'll do for me. It's fine.
Now I can start working my way down the list of jobs.

[onlyMark]

My post at #476 just back one page - first photo and last photo - nobody commented on something that is different that isn't the pool itself?

[casimira]

I want to be there right now!!! Will help do gardening work.

[onlyMark]

Don't really have a garden Casi, so you'll just have to laze around the pool and visit some of the local places of interest, of which there are quite a few. I'll set up the big patio umbrella and a sun bed for those times you want a snooze.

[bixaorellana]

Jul 1, 2021 14:27:06 GMT onlyMark said:

nobody commented on something that is different that isn't the pool itself?

The bunkbed looking thing?

[onlyMark]

There is an old IKEA bunk bed, one the daughters used to use and we now use it as a 'day bed' type of thing with cushions and a mossie net over it to keep the flies/wasps/bees away just in case.
But no, that's not it.
First photo behind the bunk bed is a white arched wall. Fourth and the last photo it's now a small red wall (that matches one on the opposite side of the pool).

A couple of years or so ago there as a freak tornado thing that took some roofs off the local village. It also knocked the arched wall down and into a gulley behind. We had it rebuilt in a more simple fashion and it also opened up the view when we are at the pool.

[Kimby]

Jun 25, 2021 12:52:59 GMT onlyMark said:

The theory is teenagers/early twenties just wanting to create some havoc, that's what the police say. Not sure myself.

Jun 25, 2021 10:35:52 GMT kerouac2 said:

Have you considered putting in an alarm?

No phone line, no internet, no neighbour for one and a half kilometres so ends up being just a loud noise and nobody would come. Possibility is getting an alarm with a built in SIM card that phones up someone, if there is such a thing. But that would mean having a stable electric supply, which we haven't. We are working on ideas though.

We installed RadioShack burglar alarms on all our exterior doors at the house and cottage. If thieves break in through a window, they’ll end up opening a door sooner or later and will set off the alarm. We also have a couple motion sensors inside that are carefully aimed to not pick up a cat’s normal movements.

These are not “monitored systems”, so we have no false alarms that send the police out on wasteful missions. There is just a very loud siren that goes off when the alarm is tripped. We figure that the sound will make any thief feel pretty conspicuous, and cause them to run. And the alarm warning stickers on the windows by each door may make them go find a different house to break into in the first place.

[onlyMark]

I do now have a couple of motion sensors inside that will set a loud noise off and may give the impression that the alarm is connected to the police so we'll see what happens. I also have a couple of window stickers as well.

[onlyMark]

I thought that after a few years I’d add on a little about my workshop. The rest of the house is doing well, nothing much of note, just routine maintenance and touching up here and there. Things like replacing some mosquito nets, replacing the odd tile that was broken, painting etc etc.
The workshop though has been suffering somewhat from “settling”.
Plus being burgled. It’s also had so much use over the years I need to give it a good sort out and get rid of old paint tins, empty containers, packets, boxes and so on.

From the door looking in -




High ceiling. That is the bottom of the pool patio. The wall to the right is the side of the pool -




To the right of the door. The left side and far end are also sides of the pool. The window is where the burglars gained access. I’ve left it open (there is a grill on the outside) so that any more can see inside and see there is nothing else worth stealing. They did take my power tools which were in any case about knackered and cheap ones. Under the window, under the kitchen worktop are some tyres. I have a Summer set which I put on when I come to Spain and an all weather set I use in Germany and Bosnia because the regulations say I have to -




Looking from the far end -






The outside wall has settled making a couple of cracks -




I can see daylight through it -




The front has cracked as well but not so severely -




I have workers coming in a week or so to “staple” the walls top and bottom of the cracks to make it secure. The staples are U shaped metal/steel/iron things that straddle the cracks placed every so often.

This is the grill that was levered or pulled or jacked away from the wall to gain access. It did have a steel mesh also on the front to stop rats/mice getting in. That was removed easily enough I’ve only just replaced it because there is a feral cat hanging around. The cat is welcome, but he tends to kill a rabbit, take it into the workshop to eat it and invariably leave bits of it around which attracts the wasps and other insects. It also smells badly and it’s difficult to work in there until I leave the doors open half an hour or so.
The cat’s favourite trick though is to leave me a rather messy and smelly present under my bench -




Lastly, the damage to the grill done whilst ripping it off. I’ll weld that at some time -



I’ll update this when the work is done.

[kerouac2]

The workshop is huge. That makes it pretty impossible not to collect junk.

[onlyMark]

Yes. Junk expands to fill the space available.

[casimira]

It seems that the more space one has the more "stuff" one tends to "collect". Something I am trying to be cautious of.

Now that we are commencing our project, I will be visiting this thread more often to consult with some of the ideas posted. (Since the author of the thread pulled a "no show" I have no other recourse)

[onlyMark]

The plane crashed. Only I survived. As I wanted to get there as soon as possible I hitched a lift on a US SR-71 Blackbird spy plane going at Mach 3 but it hit a weather balloon and a wing was ripped off. I ejected over Bermuda and landed at a very nice resort hotel that are putting me up for free whilst I oversee their pool renovation.
I'll be there as soon as I can but don't hold your breath.

[cheerypeabrain]

Excellent man cave Mark. Are the grills a problem if (heaven forbid) there's a fire? Can they be opened from inside? Or do you have a fire escape plan.

[onlyMark]

Cheery, the grill on the workshop and those on the house are secured into the walls.
The workshop has bloody great big doors. Pointless having an opening grill. The house has grills on the bottom floor but there is are doors to the outside at the side of the windows. The middle floor has all grills but there is access out of two doors either side of the house plus a large grill that does split to be able to get out.
The top floor doesn't have any grills at all and the windows open so you can jump out if needs be.
There is very little that will burn in the structure because it is all concrete and tiles. The furniture will but it is all flame retardant anyway.

[onlyMark]

Why did I spend far too much money and sweat blood on this house for seven years?
This ten second video my daughter made yesterday sums it up perfectly -

[bixaorellana]

So gorgeous it's dreamlike!

[mich64]

Simply spectacular view Mark!

[onlyMark]

I never wanted an apartment in a city, which is one of the things we talked about at the very beginning. Luckily I managed to be persuasive.

[lugg]

Short but exceedingly sweet. Lovely and lucky you and your family it is gorgeous.

[onlyMark]

Yearly update - have had the window in the workshop bricked up to prevent a reoccurrence. The cracks have been sorted out as well.
Other than that it's just a round of small repairs and maintenance.
Due to the weather forecast again showing it will be above 40 degrees all next week I shall hibernate somewhat inside the house with occasional forays into the below pool.
This is what it looked like this morning -

[cheerypeabrain]

Gorgeous stunning view too.

[Kimby]

A little piece of Heaven, mark.

[kerouac2]

The vegetation around the house seems to have flourished.

What is the water situation? In a lot of southern France, they have had to restrict filling swimming pools (and washing cars).

[onlyMark]

Cheery, thank you. I am gorgeous.

Kimby, a bit hellish with the temperatures though. We have been talking about this, this year, and it getting to be more and more often the temps are above 40 C. When we first came 14 years ago there may be one or two days at 40 over the summer, but that was it. Now it is days and days of it. The discussion we've been having is as it is obviously uncomfortable (not enough solar power for aircon), should we start thinking about selling it?
The good thing though is it is a dry heat which is more bearable.
By 10am or so I have to close the windows and can do little outside come 11 to 11:30am. It's bearable a long as the nights are cool enough but they are also being affected so mid to high 20's is also becoming regular.

K2, there is apparently enough water. No restrictions here which is one of the things we rigorously check. If I'd have wanted to it would have been ok to completely drain the pool and refill it this year as it sort of still has the water from two years ago in it - but it hasn't really because of refilling due to evaporation over the summer.
The plants are watered as and when they need it, which at the moment is every other day. When we are not here a couple of ladies from the village come and check and water.

[bixaorellana]

It has gotten so lush -- lovely garden & pool!

Love the idea of bricking over the "temptation".

That night-time heat is sapping. Can your solar power do "swamp coolers"? Also, do you have ceiling fans? Hope you don't have to get rid of that great place because of climate change.

[onlyMark]

Fans are not a problem and we do have ceiling fans plus a few portable ones. I have looked at these swamp coolers and it could be a next step for sure. At the moment I wet a quilt cover and put it over me under the fan on the odd times it is really hot and that lasts half the night. I have to get up for a pee anyway so I wet it again. Not with the pee though just to make that clear.

[bjd]

You have done a fine job on that house but I just couldn't imagine living in such a hot, dry area.